Hibiscus plant named ‘15353-2N’

ABSTRACT

‘15353-2N’ is a new and distinct hardy herbaceous  Hibiscus  hybrid with novel characteristics that include upright branched stems, numerous, outward-facing, near deep pink, also referred to as folly red, flowers with dark red veins and a center eye that is between moderate brown and grayish brown, a prolonged blooming season, and hastate leaves with slightly indented margins.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Hibiscus hybrid (L.).

Cultivar denomination: ‘15353-2N’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the new and distinct hibiscus plant ‘15353-2N’. ‘15353-2N’ was generated from a cross performed on Jul. 26, 2014 near Vernon, Tex. between ‘11301-2’ (pod parent, unpatented) and ‘13028-2’ (pollen parent, unpatented). The pedigrees of each parent reflect a complex mixture of hibiscus species that include, for example, H. mocheutos, H. coccineus, H. militaris, or H. dasycalyx. The seed from this cross was harvested on Sep. 3, 2014 and the ‘15353-2N’ seedling was selected in the summer of 2015. ‘15353-2N’ was first asexually propagated near Vernon, Tex. in 2016 by stem tip cuttings. The resulting as well as subsequent asexually propagated plants have been stable and true to type throughout successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘15353-2N’ differs from its parents and all other known hardy herbaceous hibiscus plants. The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘15353-2N’: (1) it is a hardy perennial with dense branching and a compact growth habit; (2) it blooms profusely over a prolonged season; and (3) its flowers exhibit a near deep pink (between RHS 48A and RHS 50B) background and a center eye that is between moderate brown (RHS 165A) and grayish brown (RHS 166A).

‘15353-2N’ plants can be readily and unambiguously distinguished from those of its parents. ‘15353-2N’ plants exhibit near deep pink (between RHS 48A and RHS 50B) flowers that have an average diameter of 17 cm, hastate leaves with slightly indented margins, and a compact growth habit. Whereas, ‘11301-2’ plants (pod parent) exhibit near white (lighter than yellowish white RHS 155D) flowers with a pale pink (RHS 49D) tint that have an average diameter of 18 cm, lobed leaves with slightly indented margins, and an open bush growth habit; and ‘13028-2’ plants (pollen parent) exhibit deep purplish red (RHS 187D) flowers that have an average diameter of 12.5 cm, hastate leaves with slightly indented margins, and a relatively compact growth habit.

‘Midnight Marvel’ (U.S. Pat. No. 24,079) is the hibiscus plant that exhibits flowers that are colored most similarly to those of ‘15353-2N’. Nonetheless, plants of ‘15353-2N’ and ‘Midnight Marvel’ can also be readily and unambiguously distinguished at least based upon flower shape, flowering time, and flowering amount. The flowers of ‘15353-2N’ exhibit petals that are curved such that they give the impression of being full or double flowers; whereas flowers of ‘Midnight Marvel’ exhibit petals that are not curved and have a flat surface. Also, plants of ‘15353-2N’ display earlier and more profuse flowering than plants of ‘Midnight Marvel’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

‘15353-2N’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form, foliage, flowers, and leaves. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1—Shows a ‘15353-2N’ flower as seen looking directly at the adaxial surface of the petals on a 2-year-old plant.

FIG. 2—Shows a ‘15353-2N’ flower as seen looking slightly askew from the adaxial surface of the petals on a 2-year old plant.

FIG. 3—Shows a ‘15353-2N’ leaf.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘15353-2N’. The detailed description was obtained using two-year-old plants grown in loamy sand, open-field, full sun trials at a nursery near Vernon, Tex., during which the plants were supplemented with fertilizer and water as needed. These plants are natural habit and were not treated with plant growth regulators and they were not pinched at any time in the growth year. ‘15353-2N’ has not been observed under all possible environments, and certain characteristics may vary slightly under different environmental conditions. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 (4^(th) edition).

-   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots from stem cuttings after treating             cuttings with a commercial rooting hormone.—About 2 weeks             under misting and at an air temperature of 85° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Normal, branching, fleshy, and developing a             thick diameter (to about 2.5 cm).         -   Root color.—Pale yellow (between RHS 161D and RHS 162D),             depending on soil type.         -   Crop time (under normal summer growing conditions and when             grown in a 4 l container from a rooted cutting).—8 to 10             weeks to flower with very good plant vigor. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant shape and habit.—Hardy herbaceous perennial with 6 to             8 thick upright and heavily branched main stems producing an             upright spreading mound about 100 cm tall and 95 cm wide,             which is widest about 50 cm above the soil line.         -   Primary branches.—8 to 16 per main stem that protrude at             about a 45° angle from horizontal.         -   Lateral branches.—On the middle half of the primary stems.         -   Lateral branch size.—Between 15 cm and 30 cm long (shorter             at the upper nodes) and with an average diameter of 8.0 mm             at their base.         -   Flower location.—Upper ⅓ of the plant beginning at axillary             nodes while still developing at the apex.         -   Stem.—Rounded, glabrous, glaucous; averages about 100.0 cm             tall and 3.5 cm diameter at their base.         -   Stem color.—Between brilliant yellowish green (RHS 134C) and             strong yellowish green (RHS 135C).         -   Internode.—About 18 nodes per stem below flower and about 32             total, average internode length is about 4.5 cm of unpinched             plant, but varies between 2.0 to 6.0 cm and are widest in             middle portion of stem. -   Foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Hastate with slightly indented margins.         -   Texture.—Adaxial and abaxial matte.         -   Leaf blade size.—To about 15.0 cm long and 7.0 cm wide,             larger proximally and becoming smaller in distal portion of             stem.         -   Foliage color.—Adaxial and abaxial strong yellowish green             (RHS 135C).         -   Veins.—Palmate; adaxial and abaxial veins moderate yellowish             green (RHS 139D).         -   Petiole size (average).—7.0 cm long and 5.0 mm wide.         -   Petiole color.—Nearest greenish reddish orange (RHS 174C). -   Flowers:     -   -   Buds.—One day prior to opening about 3.5 cm long and 2.5 cm             in diameter, pointed apex and bluntly rounded base; and,             prior to showing petals, about 3.5 cm long and 2.5 cm in             diameter, ovoid with acute apex.         -   Bud color.—Exposed petal deep pink (between RHS 48A and RHS             50B).         -   Epicalyx.—Entire, smooth, puberulent both surfaces, linear             with sharply acute apex and attenuate base, curved around             sepals; typically 8 to 12 per flower; about 2.5 cm long             tapering to base of about 3.0 mm wide.         -   Epicalyx color.—Adaxial and abaxial strong yellowish green             (RHS 135C).         -   Sepals.—5, proximal half connate forming campanulate             star-shaped calyx; acute apex; margin entire, edentate;             puberulent abaxial glabrous adaxial; individually about 3.5             cm long and about 2.5 cm wide at fusion point. From the             upper side of the flower, sepals are not visible as a star             shape in the center of the flower.         -   Sepal color.—Abaxial and adaxial color strong yellowish             green (RHS 135C).         -   Flowers.—Solitary, about 20 to 30 per main stem without             pinching; primarily outwardly facing; average 17 cm across,             larger in early part of flowering season; persist for one to             two days, depending on temperature; effective for at least             14 weeks beginning early July and lasting into October             (north Texas), no detectable fragrance.         -   Petals.—5; glabrous, moderately lustrous both front and             back, adnate to the androecium to form a column, imbricate             to about 50% overlapping at widest part (petals about 100%             overlapping the next petal to either side), wavy and curved             on one side making an impression of a full or double flower.             Veins: Parallel branching into secondary veins in the upper             part of the petal, dark red (RHS 187C); veins extend from             the eye zone. Shape: Rounded. Margins: Entire, edentate.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Short claw-like. Surface: Adaxial and             abaxial glabrous, very slightly ribbed. Size (average):             About 8.5 cm long and about 8.5 cm wide at widest portion             (largest in earlier part of flowering season); center brown             eye about 4.0 cm diameter. Color: Adaxial and abaxial near             deep pink (between RHS 48A and RHS 50B), center eye between             moderate brown (RHS 165A) and grayish brown (RHS 166A).         -   Gynoecium.—Style: Enclosed in column about 5.5 cm long and             0.5 cm wide at base; column color deep pink between (RHS             48A) and (RHS 50B); style protruding from column and split             in distal 10.0 mm portion into typically 5 branches, branch             diameter 2.0 mm; branch color nearest strong red (RHS 46A).             Stigma: Typically 5; globose, puberulose, about 3.0 mm in             diameter; color nearest strong red (RHS 46A). Ovary:             Superior, about 6.5 mm across at base and 6.0 mm tall; acute             apex.         -   Androecium.—Filaments: Numerous, about 140; less than 1.0 mm             in diameter and about 5.0 mm long; attached along nearly the             entire length of column; color nearest moderate pink (RHS             49B). Anthers: Reniform; about 2 mm long and 1 mm wide;             nearest strong red (RHS 46A). Pollen: Numerous, globose,             less than 0.1mm long; color strong red (RHS 46A).         -   Pedicel.—Rounded in cross section, finely puberulent; length             from base of sepal to abscission point average 1.5 cm long             and 4.0 mm wide, longer on early flowers decreasing in later             flowers; color brilliant yellowish green (RHS 135C).         -   Peduncle.—Rounded, puberulent, average about 2.5 cm long             from abscission point to stem and 4.0 mm wide, slightly             longer on earlier flowers.         -   Peduncle color.—Brilliant yellowish green (RHS 135C).         -   Fruit.—Few, loculicidal capsule; glabrous; globose,             occasionally with abruptly acute apex; color between light             yellowish brown (RHS 199C) and dark grayish yellow (RHS             199D) when mature.         -   Seed.—Minutely floccose, typically globose; about 3.0 mm in             diameter; color between dark grayish reddish brown (RHS             200A) and moderate brown (RHS 200C). -   Resistance: The plant grows best with plenty of moisture, but is     able to tolerate some drought once established. Other pest and     disease resistance beyond that of other hardy perennial hibiscus     cultivars has not been observed. Hardiness at least from USDA Zone 4     through 9. -   Commercial use: Suitable for potted plant culture, landscaping as a     specimen or en masse, and especially suited for patios and confined     spaces because of the compact habit. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus hybrid (L.) plant named ‘15353-2N’ as shown and described herein. 